Straddling Both Worlds
Rabbi Wayland:
A common sight in shuls during Chol Hamoed Shabbat (morning) Service, is a mix of men wearing tefillin and those not. Until recently, each community – with Ashkenazim ruling they should be worn, and Sefardim, Chasidim and communities in Israel saying they should not – fervently guarded its custom. This visible, historic difference in custom has been hotly debated, and teaches us much about the nature of these special days.
The very name ‘Chol Hamoed’ seems like somewhat of a contradiction. Chol means secular and normal. Moed means festival. Hence these days are the ‘ordinary days of the Festival’!
They are similar to festivals in that we do the mitzvot – sit in the sukkah and take the lulav, or eat matzah and avoid chametz. The prayers are a combination of the week- day and festival services. In addition, certain acts of work (melacha) are forbidden.
However, Chol Hamoed is governed by a completely different set of guidelines to Shabbat and Yom Tov in this respect. The purpose of these laws is to enhance the enjoyment and protect the spirit of the festival. These guidelines are nuanced, complex and very much take into account individual circumstances.
Therefore, anything that is for immediate benefit or of little actual effort is generally permitted, whereas strenuous or unnecessary activities are often prohibited. There are also exceptions if avoiding work will result in significant financial loss.
Tefillin are described as a ‘sign’ (‘ot’) – an act of testimony to our belief in G-d as being intimately involved our lives, and our acceptance of His mission for us. We have other ‘signs’ as well – including Shabbat and Yom Tov. The Talmud explains that the ‘sign’ of the celebration of Shabbat and Yom Tov renders the ‘sign’ of tefillin unnecessary on those days.
What about Chol Hamoed? The fact that it has aspects of both the holy and the ordinary has led the great authorities to debate its status – does it constitute a sufficient ‘sign’ of our connection with G-d? Some, such as the Rambam (Maimonides d.1204) say it does, and so tefillin are unnecessary. Others, such as the Rema (Rabbi Moshe Isserles d. 1572) say that one must still wear them.
However, all authorities, agree that Chol Hamoed is a special time, endowed with holiness and the opportunity to connect to G-d in ways not possible during the rest of the year.